Glass feeder tube adjusting mechanism



Aug. 16, 1949. M. A. KOLEDA GLASS FEEDER TUBE ADJUSTING MECHANISM Filed March 21, 1946 27 In ven for:

MichaelA.Koleda A ttorn e ys.

Patented ug. 146', 1949 y Y wam... 1..--

Grass FEEDER TUB'11j J'STI f l .Y ivnsemmlsiwTVA Y .Y Mamet A Knieda; Rocky Hill; @0m-e assign p f HartfordEmpil-g Gompany, i Hartfpldiconnm corporation of Delaware Y v ,v @maenner-smeren 21, 19fieglj"ser-iat'Noe#3650133E Y r invention relates-1:0:improvements in the supporting andi aiustingmechanism off a v glass. feeder thatis Infowm the art as. the' Hartforxieimpr: single' feeder; an] example' of which'. is disclosed" in Patent No.. 157.6032541, granted May' am', 1930;. to; Karl.` Peiierg. assigner to Hartford-Empire C0. Y -f The particularmeonanismltnat Visimproved by tlriis irivention? is sfiown.m1:detailin F'gsfr to4 tag-,.'inelusive'-of the drawings and: 'descrilsea ini the 'specification of? the: patent, partieularly 'in Y the postonthereot beginning, -witlill'ine- 90" onf. page? andfiextendine through. line 35' on` page' 8" thereof. Y.

Y hangingarm seas to depend initle molten.' glass the: feed bowl.- orl spout on' theglass feeder! above bowl or' spout andf` to be' adus'ta'llef vertically?l toward and'. away fromathe'f. uppefrberid of thoutlett'o vaxfyltne height off the? HOW passage forA glass: from the feeder bowl or` spoutk chamer into` the' outletv` thereof', whereby to reglabll controlA thefwei-'ghto- 4glass .charges 'Whicl'r areseveredl vatr regular: intervals' of time? front sur#` eessive charge' massesF whielr naveis'sued from; theoutlet. and have eenfA formed? ink susension theeromz In .the HaiftfordeEmpifr single feeder as: disclosed inf the; ator'esa-idpaten the'f tubeeoarrylng'; amr isiA elampedat one* end" to; al vertically disposedg-"verticaliy" movablel tubular rod.. vertically s'lidable: sleeve 'i'slocated in the" lower `portiona off this rod: Y./i .ero'ssl'pirt that is? Xed' I position; inf .til'le4 nod efltends tnu'gh'fa vertically-y slottedr. .nor-tiony .of that sleeve'. Vrear"flol'it' belowthe upper end: off thf'eflaiater. A-.nut-eiszflxed place in: therlowex" portion of. the" sleeve:i Af non-rotary?. vertically-movable plunger" is? "126evided Ain ther'sleevefloelow the cross pirr' anduo'rmallyis pressedC against the-latter'by a'lcompres'e' sion coilspring which is-l'ocatediinwthe sleeve.' betweeni'theplunger. and theriut A veniii'eallyl disposed, rotatably mounted adjusting screwex-v tendsupwardly through? thee nut,y withfwhibl it is; ,threadedly engaged, and:v 'hasI an operating-2 crank. on\ its loweriendt The adustingfscrew i's heldagainstfaxiall movement by' its mounting? When the adjusting screw is;turned.t in: the .dil-sv section to raisethe-tubula-r-rod, with itsi over;- hanging f arm: and suspendedf feeifler"rv tube; la lift-f' ing', forse'. is; appliedV thereto throughthezcomepression! coil vs1riag;1tl'ie plunger, .andi the- Cross?` pim and: hen-ce will lne-'cushioned by. the? doll. springi Whiclr maybe urth'erioomnressedi ex:-'-

enfasi*- inereasing 'eressareysliouldftne glass: be soiemly* visoieit impede 'upward move# meer; 'retiene The pressured seiiew may be exerted directly thrOugh-'tle-sleeveet wiey erosepia and; mme@ vretubmlar red when one. aeusting screw' i'stnrriedf int the dir-'envien t@ ad'r lowering off the* tuli the glass. f

:Feeders which include tube suppntinjg and 'ad-i iustinghmeelia ssubs'tantianyf as above `d'es'cnneulriave zbeen audelyifusedffos many years andlitnea "isi-ris therein have teen: form@ herbez-generally sunstaetoryl A However; they nave -beri :fcmnd aetiiaiipractice` tol-heave cerey taimfsh'orteoming *whim this-.invention stimato Qu-e1. 1a.

vvlzenefoe *ese snortemihgs isfftiat wearY en: the

relatively.' movingztnreads. f tnef adjusting screw: anwnuueatnameonansin fllieaufsean-imireas'# ing@ backlaslnor: .lost m'o betweem these" partsv` which; im :time: willi` make. iencliieultf for :am op erator oefaiieedeiftoknowwhetheror not eti-slight turning of: :the adjusting. screw crank: handle with; the; intention: of: eifeotin-gV afV corrective. ad-

justmenitaor .ma posits-on .ofi theV reader' tube'. has aotuallyf leieotedt` suon; Vadjlist/inermi .o'' merely tak/em .upa oacklasn. fori loste-'motion'. since" or` enamore-.aref .aooustornedtoiusa the:h feeder timeV posltiomadjlistmnt? t@ ser' and In"ailfitafini properrvleiglrit .ot the charges=Y prodled" by? the feeder, itqiseof-.fnnportanoe tti-at tnef meohanism used'ftoeeii'et-rsuors adinet-,ment shouln be reliable ardhouldfaot instantl'ytof effect the adjustment? desired` Tlciepresent; .invention liriovidlesf al sulpplemental nut on the adjusting screw between; theffrmainzriubriand the' cbrnpliessiori edili spring and:monstfxruots;v andi'relativelyY arranges. these; parts: 'for` mutuai fvzcooperation se that relative axial movemntfhetweemtne: mainrfnut. and the supplement/ailA mit :wilirzbe auntcnr-latein'allv etected by atherpnessuvaot the: ooi-1^. spring" tov olov-iatef` am?,E

Possible loaoklashior lost motion. becauseiof. wear on?thefrrelatwely-moving. threads: of the device. Amathexz: shortcoming" vof. the; priori' mechanism iS" Tf1-milt slacks'x :toreear'd-aft adlustmentof" theJ position: .of the? :tubeoamying .overl'han'gin'gf alma-boisson@ :vor'maintainaxialialignmentzofi the' tub/erandfeedenaoutlet or 'for any' oth'ei desirable? purposa. This can) be effected .onzlyrbyf inserting' a s1lii'rr-olezslriimsebetv/ieenr-.tneI avm: and'. its supi-V pontingf tubular rodi toI adust: the arm longitudinaliy in' one directionorbyfemovingi als Y or? shimsror planingf oi mat aioftlea'rri toadjust/Tit.- lurrgitudrely) `the' olyositeY dreetonx.

to insure desirable accuracy thereof. The present invention cures this shortcoming by making the arm-supportingr rod in two connected sections, the upper of which is angularly adjustable in the lower and has a latterly offset or eccentric upper end portion to which one end of the arm is clamped. By loosening the fastening devices of this portion of the mechanism, the arm can be adjusted longitudinally in either direction quickly, easily and accurately and secured in adjusted position by again tightening such fastening devices.

Further objects and advantages of the invention hereinafter will be pointed out or will become apparent from the following description of a practical embodiment of the invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the improved tube supporting and adjusting mechanism operatively applied to the feed bowl or'spout portion of a glass feeder so as to support a feeder tube operatively therein, the view being mainly in side elevation with parts broken away and other parts shown in section; and

Fig. 2 is a relatively enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, showing details of the relatively movable cooperative adjusting elements ofV the mechanism.

In Fig. 1, the numeral I deignates a feed bowl or spout which, in normal operation of the feeder of which it is a part, may contain molten glass (not shown) to a levelindicated by the dot-anddash line 2. The bowl or spout I has a glass feed outlet in its bottom. This outlet, in the example shown, comprises a well 3 which is open at its top and is provided at its bottom with acentral discharge orifice 4. The upper portion of this well is formed to `provide an upstanding curb, designated 5, on the bottom of the bowl or spout but this is not an essential feature of the invention as the well or outlet might beush at its upper end with the bowl or spout bottom.

The feeder tube, designated 6, usually is refractory but might be of any suitable heat-resistant material. It is suspended. from the outer end portion of an overhanging arm 1 so that it depends through a suitable opening 8 in the top or cover portion 9 of the feeder bowl or. spout I in line with and to a level located at a predetermined height relative to the curb at the upper end of the well 3. The tube may be fastened detachably to the outer end portion of the arm 1 in any suitable way, as by the mechanism generally indicated at I0.

The arm I is carried by a vertically disposed rod which comprises a relatively long or mainlower section I I, which may be tubular as shown, and a cooperative upper section-I2 which need not be tubular but may be so,'if desired. The upper section I2 comprises a lower portion I 2a which sets rotatively in the tubular rod section I'I and an upper portion I2b which is laterally offset from or eccentric to the lower portion |2a. The upper portion I 2b may be larger diametrically than the lower portion I2a. Because of this feature and/or the laterally offset or eccentric position of the portion I2b, a downwardly facing shoulder I3 is provided on the rod section I2 to rest upon the upper end of the rod section I I.

The arm 'I is mounted on the eccentric upper portion I2b of the rod section I2 so that it may be angularly adjusted ab'out the axis of its support and also may be adjusted fore-and-aft by swinging the eccentric upper portion I2bof the rod Vsection I2 angularly about the axis of the lower portion I'2a thereof. These adjustments or either of them may be employed to bring the tube 6 into axial alignment with the outlet or to maintain such alignment or for any other desirable purpose. As shown, the means for fastening the arm 'I in place on the upper portion IZb of the supporting rod is in the form of a clamp comprising one part, designated I4, which may be integral with the end portion of the arm, and a cooperative separately formed part, designated I5, fastened to the part I4 by cap bolts I6. The lower portion I2a of the upper section of the rod may be provided with a groove I1 to accommodate the end Yof a set screw I8 which is threaded through a suitable hole I9 in the tubular rod section II'. When the set screw I8 has been tightened against the bottom of groove I'I, the upper section of the rod will be secured in an angularly adjusted position in the tubular rod section II and the fore-and-aft adjustment of the arm 'I and its suspended feeder tube 6 will thus be attained. The set screw I8 may be loosened sufficiently topermit any desired fore-and-aft adjustment of the arm 'I whilestill projecting into the groove II suliciently to prevent upward displacement of the rod Vsection I2 fromthe tubular rod section II. f

The tubular rod section II is slidablevertically in spaced bearings 20 and 2|, respectively,l in bracket arms 22 and 23 respectively. These bracket arms may be attached to a stationary support 24 or might be integral parts thereof. The support 24 may be any convenient stationary supporting member.

The supporting rod II, I2 maybe adjusted vertically to adjust-the lower endV of the feeder tube 6 in relationto the well curb 5 from' a Zero position, at which the feeder` tube rests upon' the curb and shuts off all flow of glass tothe well, to a higheror raised position, such as that shown in Fig. 1. In its raised position the lower end of the tube cooperates with the curb5 to define between them an annular passageway, designated 25, for the inflow of glass from the feeder spout or bowl to the well 3. The distance above the curb 5 at which the lower end of the tube 6 is located will of course deterrnine'the size of the inflow passage 25 to the well. This will determine the weight of glass issuing from the orifice 4 in a given time, as between successive glass severing operations of an associate glass severing mechanism (not shown). Vertical Vadjustment of-the tubethus maybe employed to regulablycontrol the weight of the glass mold charges produced by the feeder. Avertical plunger 26, made of refractory or of any other suitable heat-resisting material, is partially shown in Fig. l as depending through the tube 6 into the -well 3. The

plunger 26may be supported and operated by any suitable mechanism (not shown), such as that disclosed in the aforesaid Peiler Patent 1,760,254, so as to cooperate withthe tube 6 to control the formation of the mold charges produced by the feeder. v l

The means for adjustingthe supporting rod II, I2 vertically comprises a main nut 2l, xed in place as by pins 21a, Fig. 2, in the lower end portion of an internal sleeve 28, which is slidably disposed in the lower portion of the tubular rod section I I. A vertically disposed adjusting screw 29 which is journaled in a bushing 30 that is xed in place, as by the pins 3l, in the lower portion of the bearing 2 I is threaded through the nut 21 and projects above the latter a substantialy distance in the. sleeve 28. A' secondary or :auxiliary lthreaded :onffahe ser-ew "29 mthfin -thesleeve. 218 .at a predetermined idistance abeve xthecmain nut 21. .Y

A i'coil springe-3 :is interposed between the 'secondarywn-ut .3 2 :anda tplunger 7.34 is :reciprocably `.disposed `within .a :higher portion `'of v:the sleeve .28. .A cross `.piniz in .the :tubular -rod section ,I I sextends.. transversely. through -a vertically-slotted portion 35 of `therinternal sleeve `2.8. Thefspringeais .compressed so as to hold jthe plunger 34 against the cross pir-1.35, which is'carriedlbylithe rod-.section-=5I..I. The spring 33 also urges the internal sleeve 28 downwardly and yieldingly maintains Lit at the limit of its downwardJsliding mvementfin ..the lrodfsection. {l-his is determined. by the engagementof :thescross pin 35 with the upper end portion31of the sleeve, this being atthe upper len-dof the slotted portion 36 ofisuch sleeve. The plunger 34 is prevented from turning Vor rotating aroundgits axis within .the sleevefiZ-I.,v as by a pin 38 carriedtby the plu-nger and working in a vertical slot 39 in the internal sleeve 28.

The secondary nut 32 has a downwardly extending projection or tongue 40, tting slidably in a cooperative recess 4I in the upper end of the main nut 21. In assembling the adjusting mechanism, the secondary nut 32 may be placed on the screw 29 any predetermined distance from the main nut that is less than the length ofthe projection 40. An initial spacing of approximately of an inch may be selected.

'Ihe projection 40 may be substantially rectangular in shape and the recess 4I may be similarly configured, thus providing sliding contact between substantially straight parallel side walls of the tongue and its cooperative recess.

The adjusting screw 29 may be turned conveniently by a crank handle 42 which, in practice, may be considerably longer than that shown in Fig. 1. When thus turned in the proper direction, motion will be imparted through the coil spring 33, the plunger 34, and the cross pin 35 to the vertically movable, supporting rod II, I2, whereby to raise the arm 1 and the suspended feeder tube 6 relative to the feeder outlet. When the adjusting screw is turned in the opposite direction, a downward pull on the supporting rod I I, I2 will be exerted from the screw through the nut 21, internal sleeve 28 and cross pin 35. The spring 33 serves as a safety element in the event the glass in the feeder bowl or spout is cold enough to impede upward adjustment of the tube E from a previous position, as from its completely lowered position on the curb 5. The spring will then cushion the connection between the adjusting parts so that the feeder tube 6 will be raised gradually without damaging it by the yielding but increasing pressure of the spring.

Feeder operators are accustomed to use the adjustment of the feeder tube 6 relatively to theV upper end of the feeder outlet to correct the weight of the charges or to maintain the desired weight. It therefore is desirable that a slight turning of the handle of the adjusting screw should cause a corresponding adjustment of the feeder tube and that the effect thereof should not be lost in whole or in part because of backlash or lost motion resulting from wear on the threads of the adjusting screw and the cooperative nut means. These threads do wear but backlash or lost motion which otherwise would be caused thereby is obviated in the operation of the improved adjusting mechanism of the present invention. As the relatively moving thread surfaces .6 wear., fthe compression :spring -.-.33 .mill auto-:- maticaly-force .fthesecondaryznutm downwardly relativete theymainmutzl so that .the '.upperssure face. i43 edf `nach convolution :fof :fthe thread ini-the secondary mut 32 vwill `;be-.force1;l continuously against .fthe :upper surface 44I of :the engagedfportionof .the adjusting screw.29,.as indicated in Fig. 2. .Atthe same time, .thepressure of the-,spring will; beitransmitted f through ;the.fcross 'pin $35, rod

sectienfI.-lfand internal sleeveltothe maininut 2.1 iso as "to icause yan upward pull on the '.flatter.. This-will-maintain 'the lower surface 45 .of :each convolution @of vthe thread .fof 'the Vmain .nut :r2.1 against the lower :surface 46of theengaged por.- tion of the thread .of the adjusting screw 29.,.faso aseshownin Tigri-so .as to .-,takeup Lwear .onithese parts. Thus, :there :millllfbefanrautomatic take-up afewear between xthe :threads of :thezadjusting screwsandrt-he nuty meansfthereon. As weariroccurs :and isfcompensatedjhe auxiliary zandffmain nuts .are .automatically .adj usted,y closer togethen rI'he supporting rod II, I`2 may be held against turning in its bearings, as by a guide pink 41, depending from a collar 48 fastened on the tubular section I I, the pin 41 depending slidably in a suitable vertical opening 49 in the stationary part 23. The collar t8 may carry a depending nger 50, the lower free end portion of which is supported to move vertically relative to a suitable vertical surface 5I on the stationary bearing 2|. This surface may be provided with graduations i (not shown) with which the finger 50 may cooperate to indicate to the operator the adjusted position of the feeder tube at any time.

I do not wish'to be limited to the precise details of the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings and herein described as many changes therein or modifications thereof will now be obvious or will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a glass feeder, a mechanism for supporting and adjusting vertically a vertically adjustable element, said mechanism comprising a vertically movable carrier for said element, said carrier comprising a vertically movable vertical rod, said rod being tubular from its lower end for at least part of its length, a nut, means to mount said nut slidably and non-rotatably in the tubular rod, an adjusting screw adapted for threaded engagement with said nut, means to mount said screw operatively at a fixed level so that said screw extends vertically through said nut in threaded engagement therewith and in the tubular rod for a substantial distance above said nut, an internal abutment xed to said tubular rod at a position therein spaced vertically above said screw, an auxiliary nut on said Screw at a slight distance above said rst nut, means interconnecting said nuts to permit only relative axial movement between them, and a compression coil spring in said tubular rod between said internal abutment and said auxiliary nut, whereby cushioned upward pressure on said abutment and thence to said rod will be applied through said spring to lift said rod when said screw is turned about its vertical axis in one direction and pressure will be exerted downward on said auxiliary nut to adjust its position on said screw relative to said first nut to compensate for wear on the co-engaging threads of said screw and auxiliary nut, and wherein said vertical rod comprises an upper section having a laterally oiset or eccentric vertical upper portion angularly adjustable around the vertical axis of the remainder of the rod, said carriercomprises a substantially hori- Zontal arm having its inner end mounted on said laterally oiset or eccentric upper portion of the vertical rod so that said arm may be adjusted angularly around the vertical axis thereof, and said vertically adjustable element coinprises a feeder tube depending from the outer end of said arm into the molten glass in a feeder bowl or spout above an outlet in the bottom of the latter, said laterally offset or eccentric upper portion of the rod and the arm thereon being adjustable angularly to align the tube with said outlet and said rod being adjustable vertically to position the lower end of the tube at the desired level in relation to the upper end of the aligned outlet. Y

2. kIn combination, a glass feeding bowl or spout having an outlet in its bottom, a vertically movable vertical rod at one side of said bowl or spout, said rod having a laterally offset or eccentric vertical upper end portion adjustable angular- 1y about the vertical axis of the remainder of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le-of this patent:

y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,760,254 Peiler May 27, 1930 1,373,022 Peiier Aug. 23, 1932 

